Trunk-tray lifter



June 10, 1924. 1,497,604

G. STEVENS TRUNK TRAY LIFTER Filed March 11, 1922 6 I VENTOR: 'llll Qew' M Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES GEQBGELIONEESTEVENS, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUNK-TRAY LIFTER.

Application filed March 11, 1922. Serial No. 542,956;

To all whom it may concern:

7 Be it known that I, GEoReE LIONEL STEvENs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Trunk-Tray Lifter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a trunk, suit case, valise or other receptacle of the kind provided with a novel device for lifting said tray from the body of the trunk in a convenient and easy manner.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied, and so it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described, as long as they are within the spirit or scope of the claims.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a trunk with the lid in open condition and the tray removed showing also the tray lifter embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a central transverse vertical section thereof, the trunk being in closed condition.

Figure 3 represents a side elevation showing the lid in open condition and the tray in the lid as raised with the lid.

Figure 4 represents a front elevation showing the lid in open condition, the tray in position in the body of the trunk and portions of the lifting device embodying the invention.

Figure 5 represents a plan View of the trunk with the lid in open condition and a modification of the lifting device.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings.

1 designates the body of a trunk, 2 the lid thereof hinged thereto, 3 the tray of the trunk, and 4 the ledges in the body on which the tray is supported, all of which are of known form.

5 designates straps or bands of pliable material which converge from rear to front and which are adapted to be passed freely under the tray from front to rear, the rear end portions thereof being secured firmly as at 6 to the inner side of the rear wall 7 of the lid. The front portion of the straps rise in front of the tray and extend outside of the body of the trunk then rise in front of the lid and are bent over the top of the lid where the meeting front ends of the converging straps which are connected with a ring 8 are hung by the latter on a catch 9 on the lid, thus holding the straps in operative position for raising the tray from the body of the trunk, as will be hereinafter fully described.

The position of the parts are as illustrated in Figure 2. The catch may be a hooklike member, a headed pin, stud or screw or other proper member that will hold the ring 8 engaged thereon. It will be seen that f when the trunk is to be opened, the lid is raised as usual and as the straps retain the tray in the lid the latter in turning upwardly carries with it the tray inclosed therein, the fixed ends of the straps on the lid acting as a fulcrum for the straps in raising the same, the position of the parts now being shown in Figure 3.

The ring 8 is now disengaged from the catch and the straps are let go when the tray may be grasped and removed from the lid and then carried elsewhere as desired.

In Figure 4 I show the lid as raised, and the tray as resting on the ledges, the front ends of the straps hanging freely outside of the body of the trunk. It is evident that when the front ends of the straps are drawn out said straps owing to the draft or pull thereon bear upwardly against the under side of the tray and so lift the latter from the ledges and consequently from the body of the trunk to a height to be within con venient reach when it may be removed entirely from the trunk and carried or placed elsewhere.

If desired, as shown in Figure 5, a plurality of straps or bands 5 may be connected with the lid and both passed under the tray while their front portions are within reach on the exterior of the front of the body of the trunk so the straps may be grasped by both hands and so exert the pull or draft on the straps so as to lift the tray either with the lid being opened or lift the tray by itself as in the previous instances, but a plurality of catches may be secured to the lid one for each strap. In some cases, the front terminals of the straps may be retained in the trunk and placed under the tabs 10 employed as in Figure 4 to fasten the lid of the tray to the body of the latter.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. In a trunk or like receptacle provided with a lid and a tray, a strap connected at its rear end with the hinged portion of said lid and passed beneath the tray, and its other end extended forwardly and upwardly through the receptacle to the exterior thereof where it may be grasped, said rear end of the strap acting as a fulcru'm'in lifting the tray by the strap. 7 1

2. In a trunk or like receptacle provided with a lid and a tray, the latter being adapted to be drawn into the former on raising the lid, a strapconnected on its inner end 

